The four dependent variables for the model were selected based on their "direct effect" on the role of non-state actors (NSA). These variables must indicate the presence of Government Sanctioned or Extra-Government role potentials. For example, the level of corruption in a country directly indicates the Extra-Governmental Potential for NSAs to gain influence by bribing government officials, or civil service.
Variable Calculation:
The control for the model was created by averaging the scores and rankings of a totalitarian country sample. The mean of totalitarian scores is used to anchor the the center point between Government Sanctioned and Extra-Government Role Potentials. The logic is as follows: if libertarianism (Government Sanctioned) and anarchy (Extra-Government) represent the extremes of these role potentials, totalitarianism marks the middle point. Following this line of reasoning, an average of any index or score applied to this totalitarian sample would mark the middle point of the Role Potential Spectrum.
Failed States Variable (Stability):
The Failed State Variable is calculated utilizing the Failed States Index produced by Fund For Peace. States ranking extremely low (1= failed state; 177= Stable State) on the Failed States Index would more resemble a anarchic state. The Failed State Variable is calculated by determining how far a countries failed state rank is distal to the totalitarian mean. States ranked lower than the totalitarian mean are considered to present more Extra-Governmental Role Potentials; while states ranking higher are consider to present more Government Sanctioned Role Potentials.
Democracy Variable:
The Democracy Variable is calculated utilizing the Democracy Index produced by The Economist. States with high rankings in the democracy index demonstrate poor government representation of the populace. Democracy allows individuals and NSAs to redress grievances in government sanctioned vectors. Poor representation of the people indicates that NSAs have fewer Government Sanctioned role potentials to achieve desired ends. In such democratic deprivation unlawful NSAs utilizing Extra-Government role potentials are more likely to wield meaningful influential roles. While totalitarian regimes have extremely low democracy scores, they still sanction particular behaviors, sponsor particular ideological and political beliefs, and often have some similance of elections. Totalitarians do not represent the least democratic states. Eritrea (152), Guinea (157), Equatorial Guinea (156), Guinea-Bissau (158), Chad (165), Togo (164), and the Central African Republic (166), all scored higher than Syria (153) in the Democracy Index, representing less democracy than Syria. The indication is that even totalitarians can represent their supporters; however, more anarchic states fail even to do this.
Corruption Variable:
The Corruption Variable is calculated utilizing the Corruption Perceptions index produced by Transparency International. High corruption indicates that NSAs can circumvent government regulation, law, and ethical business practices (i.e. free market competition). Bribery, nepotism, and cronyism represent the quintessential examples of corruption related Extra-State role potentials. Is more viral when it is concentrated in a few highly influential individuals who control the overwhelming majority of resources of a country. In such a situation NSAs are unlikely to be able to compete with more powerful state actors, which prefer this situation were few individuals can grant access to a large amount of resources versus the many individual interests that control resources in a privatized economy. Totalitarian regimes demonstrate former situations. Countries with more corruption, more widely dispersed are more representative of anarchic states.
Doing Business Variable:
The Doing Business Variable is calculated utilizing the Doing Business Index produced by the World Bank Group. The index measures the strength and stability of the economic regulatory environment in regards to doing business. High ranking indicate an environment high unconducive to legitimate business practices. Such environments have ineffective judiciary systems and demonstrate little security in contract enforcement, land and mineral rights, etc. Extra-Government role potentials are highly likely to be the dominate role potentials in these environments.
Variable Selection:
The four dependent variables for the model were selected based on their "direct effect" on the role of non-state actors (NSA). These variables must indicate the presence of Government Sanctioned or Extra-Government role potentials. For example, the level of corruption in a country directly indicates the Extra-Governmental Potential for NSAs to gain influence by bribing government officials, or civil service.Variable Calculation:
The control for the model was created by averaging the scores and rankings of a totalitarian country sample. The mean of totalitarian scores is used to anchor the the center point between Government Sanctioned and Extra-Government Role Potentials. The logic is as follows: if libertarianism (Government Sanctioned) and anarchy (Extra-Government) represent the extremes of these role potentials, totalitarianism marks the middle point. Following this line of reasoning, an average of any index or score applied to this totalitarian sample would mark the middle point of the Role Potential Spectrum.Failed States Variable (Stability):
The Failed State Variable is calculated utilizing the Failed States Index produced by Fund For Peace. States ranking extremely low (1= failed state; 177= Stable State) on the Failed States Index would more resemble a anarchic state. The Failed State Variable is calculated by determining how far a countries failed state rank is distal to the totalitarian mean. States ranked lower than the totalitarian mean are considered to present more Extra-Governmental Role Potentials; while states ranking higher are consider to present more Government Sanctioned Role Potentials.Democracy Variable:
The Democracy Variable is calculated utilizing the Democracy Index produced by The Economist. States with high rankings in the democracy index demonstrate poor government representation of the populace. Democracy allows individuals and NSAs to redress grievances in government sanctioned vectors. Poor representation of the people indicates that NSAs have fewer Government Sanctioned role potentials to achieve desired ends. In such democratic deprivation unlawful NSAs utilizing Extra-Government role potentials are more likely to wield meaningful influential roles. While totalitarian regimes have extremely low democracy scores, they still sanction particular behaviors, sponsor particular ideological and political beliefs, and often have some similance of elections. Totalitarians do not represent the least democratic states. Eritrea (152), Guinea (157), Equatorial Guinea (156), Guinea-Bissau (158), Chad (165), Togo (164), and the Central African Republic (166), all scored higher than Syria (153) in the Democracy Index, representing less democracy than Syria. The indication is that even totalitarians can represent their supporters; however, more anarchic states fail even to do this.Corruption Variable:
The Corruption Variable is calculated utilizing the Corruption Perceptions index produced by Transparency International. High corruption indicates that NSAs can circumvent government regulation, law, and ethical business practices (i.e. free market competition). Bribery, nepotism, and cronyism represent the quintessential examples of corruption related Extra-State role potentials. Is more viral when it is concentrated in a few highly influential individuals who control the overwhelming majority of resources of a country. In such a situation NSAs are unlikely to be able to compete with more powerful state actors, which prefer this situation were few individuals can grant access to a large amount of resources versus the many individual interests that control resources in a privatized economy. Totalitarian regimes demonstrate former situations. Countries with more corruption, more widely dispersed are more representative of anarchic states.Doing Business Variable:
The Doing Business Variable is calculated utilizing the Doing Business Index produced by the World Bank Group. The index measures the strength and stability of the economic regulatory environment in regards to doing business. High ranking indicate an environment high unconducive to legitimate business practices. Such environments have ineffective judiciary systems and demonstrate little security in contract enforcement, land and mineral rights, etc. Extra-Government role potentials are highly likely to be the dominate role potentials in these environments.